Hot Tanks

[PhantomEB]

:grinpimp: Anyone running a Hot tank using Caustic soda in thier shops to clean parts?:smokin:

Seen the one my buddy has for his engine rebuild shop out of his garage, 30" cube where he submerges anything up to Big block ford engines torn down.

Was thinking one day doing something similar but more versatile, to do anything up to Big block fords but more so to do full width diffs etc.

Something in the lines of 24x24x56 will do what I envision.:flipoff2:

[DanB]

that idea sounds cool.. but if u are dipping axles how fast will it dirty up the tank that would require you drain and clean up? and how hot are they susposed to be? but i do like the concept of that thing..

[Travis Waldher]

The machine shop that cleaned up my axle housings used a 30x30x30 tank... they just dipped half the housing at a time. ;)

the hot tank didn't help *that* much to get it clean. bead blasting it did though.

[PhantomEB]

Then I guess its time for me to try my theory, from what I understand, just talking to said buddy, better to leave the lid on so the heat just doesnt just go into thin air and keeps the caustic soda temp up. Which is why I was thinking a shallower but longer chamber to sink parts in.

Sorry Dan, I havent gotten indepth enough to find out temps etc.

[Old Scout]

So what are your plans with your old spent Caustic solution?

[Travis Waldher]

So what are your plans with your old spent Caustic solution?

Prison moonshine... that stuff is what gives the drink bite. :laughing: :grinpimp:

[PTSchram]

So what are your plans with your old spent Caustic solution?

Neutralize and dump? Weak acid + strong base = water + salt (plus some heat)

[redrangie]

pt,
quick story:

I was managing a service facility, and we switched floor soaps. Now this would not be a new event normally, but the new zep formula, turned NEON GREEN when water was added, and the solution was safe to rinse out.

So, my guys start cleaning out there bays like normal right? Well this was in a downtown location, and we were surrounded by office buildings. It's closing time, and I have enough stress with customers coming in and complaining about cost and such, right? Well right about now the city, a news crew or two, and a hazmat team all start showing up too.

Seems that several environmentally concious people had called to report that we were dumping used anti-freeze into the sewer and streets.

We ended up have to provide all sorts of proof that it was safe, including having a zep person contact the agencies involved...

[PTSchram]

pt,
quick story:



Seems that several environmentally concious people had called to report that we were dumping used anti-freeze into the sewer and streets.


If they only knew that many municipalities have no prohibition on dumping anti-freeze into the sewers. It's eaten by the bugs in the treatment system.

I too have been in similar situations where a client used a cooling tower chemical that had fluorescein to determine acceptable concentrations. The fire dept, police, news crews, etc. showed up...

PT

[Old Scout]

Neutralize and dump? Weak acid + strong base = water + salt (plus some heat)
Nope, sorry. Spent solutions contain many suspended and dissolved toxic compounds. It's about 9.00/gallon to have it hauled a away. :p

[Old Scout]

pt,
quick story:

I was managing a service facility, and we switched floor soaps. Now this would not be a new event normally, but the new zep formula, turned NEON GREEN when water was added, and the solution was safe to rinse out.

So, my guys start cleaning out there bays like normal right? Well this was in a downtown location, and we were surrounded by office buildings. It's closing time, and I have enough stress with customers coming in and complaining about cost and such, right? Well right about now the city, a news crew or two, and a hazmat team all start showing up too.

Seems that several environmentally concious people had called to report that we were dumping used anti-freeze into the sewer and streets.

We ended up have to provide all sorts of proof that it was safe, including having a zep person contact the agencies involved...


Zep Flash is not new. It's over 30 years old. and they have a exact copy less the green dye called Flash Light!

[PTSchram]

Nope, sorry. Spent solutions contain many suspended and dissolved toxic compounds. It's about 9.00/gallon to have it hauled a away. :p

Without a waste characterization, I won't comment:flipoff2: If I were using a hot tank in my home shop, I'd probably neutralize and dump. If in a profit-seeking business, I'd spend the $ for the characterization and dispose of appropriately.

$9.00/gallon! That's highway robbery! I haven't had to pay more than a coupla dollars a gallon for far more nasty stuff than this, cresol, cresylic acid, etc. Who charges $9/gallon?

Can't "Spent" caustic be used as feedstock in other processes? I've bought "Spent" pickling acid for wastewater treatment use.

[Old Scout]

$9.00/gallon! That's highway robbery! I haven't had to pay more than a coupla dollars a gallon for far more nasty stuff than this, cresol, cresylic acid, etc. Who charges $9/gallon?

Without a haz mat generators license and business licensing and the necessary liability bond that goes with it, 9.00/gallon would be the going rate. The cradle to grave responsibility would be picked up by the hauling company!

[Old Scout]

Can't "Spent" caustic be used as feedstock in other processes? I've bought "Spent" pickling acid for wastewater treatment use.
Yea lets feed it to cows now that it's full of hydrocarbon byproducts, lead and other heavy metals. :flipoff2:

[DanB]

did u find any do it yourself on building hot tank?

it sounds interesting that i might build one

[MT4Runner]

Yea lets feed it to cows now that it's full of hydrocarbon byproducts, lead and other heavy metals. :flipoff2:

Ummm...I think PTSchram meant feedstock in other chemical processes...not feed for livestock!

[Old Scout]

Ummm...I think PTSchram meant feedstock in other chemical processes...not feed for livestock!
You couldn't see the sarcasm in my post? :laughing: :laughing: :rolleyes:

[frankenfab]

did u find any do it yourself on building hot tank?

I know where there is some info, although not a detailed description. Top of this page....

http://www.bacomatic.org/~dw/tools/shop.htm





.

[redrangie]

Zep Flash is not new. It's over 30 years old. and they have a exact copy less the green dye called Flash Light!

damn os, cranky as always.... :rolleyes:

it was new to US.

[PTSchram]

Without a haz mat generators license and business licensing and the necessary liability bond that goes with it, 9.00/gallon would be the going rate. The cradle to grave responsibility would be picked up by the hauling company!

Under federal regs, (for a business) it would be handled as a conditionally exempt small quantity generation.

Liability CAN NEVER be accepted by anyone other than the generator. The generator is ALWAYS responsible, just ask anyone who has ever been involved in a CERCLA cleanup. In a major project here in town, folks who thought they were doing the right thing got hit as potentially responsible parties for taking single gallons of paint to the local treatment facility.

[jwstevens]

In a machine shop I used to work in, the disposal cost was slightly higher than the purchase cost of the chemical. One time, the sludge at the bottom was scooped into a bucket, allowed to dry out, and dumped in the back of the lot (a couple miles from any ground water sources, no sewer service in the area, and half a mile from any housing). The trees back there absolutely loved the stuff and grew like crazy.

Between the cost of the chemical, disposal, and heating the tank (about 30" deep by 4' by 5'), the owner decided to buy an industrial parts washer - faster and does a better job plus aluminum is safe in the washer.

[hotwired]

Without taking into account the disposal issues, I haven't seen any mention of the safety issues involved. Hot caustic burns, not just the scalding from the water but heat activates the caustic and it will attack the oils in your skin with a vengeance. I've got a friend that I work with that has scars on his neck and arms from heated caustic, I'd find a better way to clean the parts.

[PTSchram]

Without taking into account the disposal issues, I haven't seen any mention of the safety issues involved. Hot caustic burns, not just the scalding from the water but heat activates the caustic and it will attack the oils in your skin with a vengeance. I've got a friend that I work with that has scars on his neck and arms from heated caustic, I'd find a better way to clean the parts.

You should see what it does to eyes!

[Old Scout]

Under federal regs, (for a business) it would be handled as a conditionally exempt small quantity generation.

Liability CAN NEVER be accepted by anyone other than the generator. The generator is ALWAYS responsible, just ask anyone who has ever been involved in a CERCLA cleanup. In a major project here in town, folks who thought they were doing the right thing got hit as potentially responsible parties for taking single gallons of paint to the local treatment facility.
You said it yourself "(for a business) " were not dealing with a business.

[hotwired]

You should see what it does to eyes!

No thanks, the scars on his hide are bad enough! :barf: